By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

TUREANO ‘Reno’ Johnson left Madison Square Garden Theater with the World Boxing Association’s International and vacant World Boxing Council’s silver titles around his waist. He simply punished Colombian Alex Theran for five rounds before he was declared the winner with his 13th technical knockout.

Johnson, 30, had an impressive showing in the inaugural RocNation Sports promotion “throne” – and in front of attendees such as New York Knicks basketball forward Carmelo Anthony, New York Yankees’ baseball pitcher CC Sabathia, pop star Rihanna, producer Spike Lee and Beyonce, whose husband, entertainment mogul Jay-Z, was the promoter.

“I’m ready to fight Gennady Golovkin, Miguel Cotto, Jermaine Taylor or any other champion out there,” said a confident Johnson after his victory. “These are the types of fights I would like to pursue. David Lemieux is also on my hit list. I’m here to take over this division.

“Everyone knows I should be undefeated so I’m going to leave no doubt about it every time I step in the ring. I can’t afford to be robbed again. With Gary Shaw putting me in a great position, I’m going to make the most of every opportunity. My goal in 2015 is to become a world champion.”

Johnson, referring to his controversial loss to Curtis Stevens on April 4, 2014 in Liacouras Center, Philadelphia, didn’t leave it up to the judges to decide the outcome as he added the two titles to the vacant WBC Continental Americas title he secured in his following fight on July 11, 2014 over Mike Gavronski at the Little Creek Casino Resort in Shelton, Washington.

Shaw, Johnson’s manager, is confident that his Bahamian champion will achieve his goals.

“Tureano Johnson is marching up the rankings and should be applauded for his fighting style,” Shaw said. “He’s the type of fighter everyone wants to see. I’m going to push hard to get him back on TV, hopefully against a guy like Gennady Golovkin. Johnson is a force in the middleweight division and you will see him in some big fights coming up.”

Now ranked at No. 8 in the WBC, No. 12 in the WBA and No. 12 in the IBF, Johnson improved his record to 18-1, while 24-year-old Theran dropped to 17-2.

In the fight, Johnson dropped Theran on the canvas a couple times. Johnson banked all the early rounds, pushing Theran to his pain limit with devastating right hooks that seemed to land at nearly every occasion with Johnson pulling off the victory in an official time of 0:01 in round 6. 

As Theran began to slow down past the third round, Johnson unleashed a barrage of body punches that forced Theran to take a knee. 

Much of the same ensued shortly after the opening bell of the fifth round as Johnson, sensing that victory was near, targeted the body once more and landed a suspicious hook to the waist of Theran that forced him down once more. 

That was the last of the action as Theran was unable to make it out of his corner to start the sixth round under the advice of the ringside doctor. The official reason was that Theran had broken his ankle and could not continue.

Johnson, a former amateur boxer who represented the Bahamas at the Olympic Games where he fell short of winning a medal before he turned pro in 2010, credits his nine years of training in Cuba to his tremendous success so far.

“You’re training among some of the most phenomenal, experienced and intelligent fighters in the world in Cuba. I’m not much of a technical fighter, like the Cubans are, but I was able to learn some of the boxing skills which are a contribution to my 17 wins as a professional fighter,” he said.

Among those in attendance were Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Dr Daniel Johnson, Greg Rolle, the director of sports for the Ministry of Tourism and a host of family and friends of Reno Johnson.

“Bahamians are all thrilled over our own Tureano Johnson’s victory,” said Minister Johnson. “Tureano’s performance was nothing short of extraordinary as was his graciousness in victory,” Johnson said. “Our islands continue to make great strides in sports tourism so Tureano’s victory is a true celebration.

“We know the fight following this match will be even bigger and we are working closely with Tureano and his management to bring a fight to the Bahamas, with Tureano as the headliner.”

It’s not known whether or not the Bahamas Government will provide any incentive to Johnson for his latest feats. But he indicated that after taking a couple days off to recuperate, he will be right back in the ring this week, preparing for his return to action whenever the bell rings for his next fight.